Rochester, NY Community Information

Rochester today is still making history, home to more than 210,000 residents and a venerable sports powerhouse, hosting the Rochester Red Wings, Americans, Raging Rhinos, Rattlers and Razorsharks. Despite competition from mainstream New York cities like Manhattan, Rochester has also emerged as a stable residential area and unique tourist destination.

Nestled away from the traffic and bustle of big city life is the Seabreeze Amusement Park in the peaceful suburb of Irondequoit facing Lake Ontario. This relic from the past can still thrill visitors today. Seabreeze opened in 1879 and is the fourth oldest amusement park in America. Much like the city itself, Seabreeze continues to entertain with its classic old world charm. The Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse is full of both class and charm, dating back to 1822. The lighthouse was built at the height of the city's commercial trade to direct ships into the Port of Rochester. Made mostly out of stone, the lighthouse towered at forty feet and was illuminated by whale oil lamps. As the pier on the beach surrounding the lighthouse was gradually lengthened, the lighthouse grew more and more distant from the lake. Yet visitors still come to see the lighthouse every year, never forgetting its purpose as a beacon of safety and light since the early nineteenth century.

Although Rochester remains an interesting place to visit, its "Rochester: Made for Living" motto tells a different story. Rochester homes for sale are routinely more affordable than the national average. With a median home sales price of $115,000, Rochester is well below the national average at $225,000, according to rochestercityliving.com. A recent SmartMoney survey also named Rochester real estate one of the most undervalued housing markets. In October 2005, the region posted a median price of $112,000, showing a mere 2.8 percent appreciation since last year, according to the Greater Rochester Association of Realtors. Nevertheless, Rochester real estate prides itself on providing "more house for the money," to the delight of Rochester home buyers.

Charlotte boasts the only beachfront residence in the city with lakefront properties. This historic neighborhood actually predates the city and was used as a U.S. port in 1805. Touted as a "community that cares," this close-knit neighborhood has modern convenience and rustic elegance with broad ridges and valleys accentuating immaculate single family homes. Although Corn Hill does not predate Charlotte, it is technically the oldest Rochester neighborhood with a diverse mix of 19th century Charlotte single family homes and contemporary townhouses overlooking the Genesee River and downtown skyline. This colorful town is just a brisk walk from the central business district and booming nightlife of downtown. Modern condominiums are also becoming a common fixture here amid older town homes and manors. Discover what this city has to offer and start your Rochester real estate search today!

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rochester%2C_New_York
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seabreeze_Amusement_Park
http://www.rudyalicelighthouse.net/OntLts/CharGen/CharGen.htm
http://www.realestatejournal.com/columnists/retreats/20051208-retreats.html
http://www.rochestercityliving.com/rochreal.asp
http://www.rochestercityliving.com/neighborhoods/neighbor.html